May

Novel Conversations is a book group that alternates between classic novels and more recent works of fiction and nonfiction. Participants are welcome to come to all the meetings or just those that sound interesting. Multiple copies of each book are available for checkout in the library and are, whenever possible, made available in large print, audiobook, and ebook editions.
Novel Conversations meets the third Thursday of each month from 7:00-8:00 pm in the Board Room. Refreshments are served!

Nathan Hill is the author of the best-selling novel The Nix. His debut novel, The Nix was recognized as one of 2016’s best books by The New York Times, The Washington Post, Newsday, Library Journal, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. A native Iowan, Hill received a BA in English and Journalism at the University of Iowa before attaining his MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. Hill has taught writing at Florida Gulf Coast University and is an Associate Professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. He currently resides in Naples, Florida.

Heather Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of seven novels, including One Breath Away, The Weight of Silence, and These Things Hidden. Gudenkauf graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages, and continues to work in education as a Title I Reading Coordinator in Dubuque, Iowa. This event will also serve as launch celebration for her newest novel, Not a Sound, which is set to be released on May 30.

Elkader Public Library Book Discussion.
Bottomland is a novel about a Midwestern family struggling to rid itself of the anti-German sentiment after World War I. During the same time, their two youngest daughters have disappeared. Participants of the book discussion are encouraged to voice their opinions on this novel by Iowa native, Michelle Hoover.

Harlan Community Library in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, Harlan Campus, is sponsoring the 2017 All Iowa Reads Book Discussion. May 9,2017 12:00 - 1:00 pm. Bring your own sack lunch - Coffee and water furnished.

Nathan Hill is the author of the best-selling novel The Nix. His debut novel, The Nix was recognized as one of 2016’s best books by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly, among others. A native Iowan, Hill received a BA in English and Journalism at the University of Iowa. The Nix is a novel that explores a wide range of topics, such as Vietnam protests, video game culture, and Norse mythology. Hill will discuss how he incorporated and connected such a wide array of topics into a critically acclaimed novel.

Dragonfly Books is thrilled to launch local Decorah author Keith Lesmeister with the release of his much acclaimed collection of short stories We Could’ve Been Happy Here. At turns hopeful and humorous, tender and tragic, We Could’ve Been Happy Here (Midwestern Gothic 2017) illuminates how we are shaped and buoyed by our intimate connections with others - both those close to us, and those we hardly know.
Keith will read and share his stories at the Pulpit Rock Brewing Co. on Tuesday, May 16 at 6:00 pm. Including special guests June Melby and David Faldet, we’ll commemorate Keith’s book launch with refreshments, readings, and a celebration of Decorah writers.

Author Renae B. Vander Schaaf and Illustrator Ava LdK Grossman will be at the Author's Corner at Orange City, Iowa on Saturday May 20. They worked together on the book Timothy and His Owl Family. Vander Schaaf's previously published books A Place of Refuge and A Place of New Beginnings will also be available. Hours 9:00 to 4:30 Saturday, May 20 northeast corner of the Courthouse Lawn, Orange City Iowa

Heather Gudenkauf is The New York Times and USA Today bestselling
author of seven novels. In her latest novel, Not a Sound, a tragic
accident leaves the main character deaf, and she spirals into depression.
Gudenkauf will speak about the connections the book has to her own
experiences, as she was born with a unilateral hearing impairment. She’ll
explain why she used books as a retreat as a child, fostering her love for
reading and writing. The event will also serve as launch celebration for
Not a Sound, which is set to be released on May 30.

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